The large, high energy cast really brings it to the stage at Candlelight

Candlelight’s production of Disney’s High School Musical On Stage is a fun, feel good musical that transports you back to high school (like it or not.) To set the mood, the dinner theatre’s lobby is creatively decked out in East High School colors with pom poms and bright posters, cleverly advertising the upcoming shows, rather than the next big game.

From the very first scene, Director-Choreographer Carrie Colton brings Grease and Beverly Hills 90210 vibes to the stage. Indeed, having never seen this musical, either as a movie or on stage, it was immediately clear that this is the next high school love story for this generation — complete with cellphones.

Having returned from winter break, student Troy (Thomas Beeker) discovers that the girl he spent a magical evening with singing karaoke, Gabriella (Andrea Canacho), has transferred to East High School. While this is exciting news for both of them, they soon learn that the person they met at karaoke is very different from the person attending high school after break.

Is Gabriella really just a math nerd or does she have other dreams too? Is Troy really only the jock on the basketball team or is he a singer? Is there a way to be both? With loveably hateable Sharpay (Delaney Marie) running the school, how will anyone break free from their given group and become who they truly are?

The plot focuses onr the struggle young students go through as they’re tying to find their place in the world. Throughout their time on stage, students must decide whether to “Stick to the Status Quo,” an excellent song where students reveal their true passions which absolutely do not fit the cliques that they’re in. This is a great whole company scene where everyone is dancing on cafeteria tables.

My favorite number was “Get’cha Head in the Game” performed by the jocks on the basketball court. The choreography was expertly set with the outstanding orchestra to be timed with the bouncing of the basketballs. Who knew jocks could dance so well (or actors could play basketball so well?), or that a bouncing ball could sound so good?

The ever-changing set depicts the theater room, the basketball court and the cafeteria, while costumes highlight each clique: plaid for the geeks, basketball uniforms for the jocks. The show thrusts us back to that oh-so-awkward time of life known as high school. Add in the stereotypical bully, Sharpay, and you’ve got a glimpse of my nightmares.

But all’s well that end’s well and like all high school stories of each generation, this too has a moral. We get to watch as Troy and Gabriella figure a few things out with a little help from their friends. Bring the kids, purchase the pom poms, and get ready for a high energy show as you return to high school.